Children of the Night

Chapter 1: On my way

It has been about ten years since the return of Princess Luna, and Shadow has taken part in many adventures during this time. She has gone along her life making friends and learning more about Equestria itself. Most ponies still didn't know about the Children of the Night, but the one's who do are one of the greatest things that has ever happened to Shadow. She had gotten to experience the wonders of friendship, while at the same time, keeping touch with her family, the other children. They were everything to her, all of them. She was happy with her life.

Shadow stood on a cloud high above Equestria. Sometimes, she liked to sneak out and fly in the nighttime and daytime sky. It takes away all of her worries and fears. She feels like she could be free from anything, including her curse. But, unfortunately, the curse was still upon her. But she knew one day that she would find the cure, and that one day, she can live among everypony in Equestria in peace. As she stood on a cloud, gazing at Equestria below, she began to wonder about something, something that she didn't know weather she should fear of it or to find out the truth.

"Why do those dark images keep appearing in my mind every time I feel anger? Could it somehow relate to the Darkness of Destruction? And what did Luna and Ultimate Lifeform mean when they said that the time will come when I am ready? What does it all mean?" she asked herself. She thought about asking her friends about it, but that probably won't help. She thought about asking her brother about it...if she could find him. Something happened to Swift Star while he was on a private mission, and ever since he went missing, Shadow has kept her eye out for him.

Then, Shadow saw Courageous Shield rise up from the clouds. He saw her and flew next to her.

"Hey Shadow." he greeted.

"Hey Shield...is this your free hour?" she replied.

"Yeah, I've got a while before my shift as a royal guard. So I came to see what you were doing."

"I was just thinking...about my curse. Do you really think that I'll find the cure"

"Hey, you're one of the most likable and adventurous ponies I know. I'm positively sure that you'll find whatever it is that will turn you into a normal pony. But then, wouldn't that not make you a Child of the Night anymore?"

"No, we'll always be loyal to our mother, even if we do find the cure..."

"...Is there anything else on your mind?"

"...I'm just under a whole lot of stress right now. I mean, Swift Star's still missing, Ultimate just isn't the same than before, war is coming, and...well, you know."

"Yeah, I know...but listen. If you ever need any help, your friends and family are here for you. Don't let things solve on their own. And someday, you will find your brother, I grantee it."

"Thanks Shield." they hugged.

"What do you mean when you say Ulty isn't the same anymore?" Shield asked.

"Well, he's been acting strange. I mean, he leads us rightly, but it just seems that he's a lot more determined about this upcoming war than we are. It's like he's turned evil, but he's still on our side..."

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time he acted this way, right?"

"...true." Shadow finished. Something strange was going on with Ultimate. He seemed to be working so hard to get ready for the upcoming war, in fact, it's rubbed off onto his personality as well. He seemed to be getting more aggressive and mean, and yet, he's still capable of not giving into his anger. Shadow wasn't sure weather something happened to him, or its just like him to act this way.

Then, a blue phoenix flew up from the clouds and headed straight toward Shield and Shadow. He was holding something in his talcons.

"Maximus, what brings you here?" Shadow asked. Maximus dropped the scroll from his talcons onto Shadow's wing. Shield took it and opened it and began to read. Maximus stood on Shadow's back.

"My dear Child of the Night, Shadow Lux., Please meet me and the others in the Crystal mines for an urgent mission. I feel that war is among us, and I will need you to here full details of what I need you to do. Signed, Princess Luna." Shield read. He looked at Shadow, who was both worried and confident about what was yet to come.

"I've gotta go then."

"Right, I wish you luck." Shield replied. With that, Shadow and Maximus took off toward Canterlot. Maximus was founded by Shadow on one of her earlier missions. She took him in and the others have respected his appearance. Maximus was most loyal to Shadow, after all, she did save him from his doom when he was just a chick.

They reached to Canterlot in no time and flew into the entrance to the Mines, where the others and herself lived away from those who didn't know about them. Luna was waiting for her, and so were the other four. Maximus flew up to the hole that shown the sun.

"Hey Shadow, where have you been?" Blossom asked. She was a younger filly who had a pink coat with an orange mane and tail. She was still a blank flank, but she has always been helpful to the others.

"Just flying around, above the clouds. Maybe thinking to myself about a few things." Shadow replied.

"Nevermind that now, I have something for all of you to do." Luna started. "As you know, we have been training for almost ten years for the war between us and the Darkness of Destruction. Well, that time is nearing, for I have felt that Harmony is fading in Equestria. Darkness feeds on hatred, and my sister and I have felt it is now basking among everypony. This, however, is only half of the reason why I called you here. There are more clues and information about the Darkness of Destruction in the Badlands, where Chylibs has once done his evil doings. Since he has been defeated, the land has been abandoned, but now it contains our next piece of evidence. I'm sending all of you to go after it, for I fear it might be our enemies next place as well."

"So wait, your sending us to a place where the enemy is just waiting for somepony to just waltz in there and take them by surprise, right?" Thunder Dash blurted. He was a yellow pegasus with a red mane and tail, and with three black lightning bolts for a cutie mark.

"I'm sending you to our next destination, which is our only way of getting more information on how to defeat our enemy. I need you all to be there for each other and look after one another. Who knows what could happen if another one of us is taken." Luna finished. They all looked at Shadow, who hung her head, missing her dear brother. Then they looked back at Luna. "I wish you all the best of luck." Then she turned to walk back out of the cave.

"Come on everypony, lets go get ready." Thunder Dash said. They all turned to go get their things, while Shadow looked up at the sky for a little while.

"Don't worry, Swift Star, I'm coming." she thought to herself, then she turned to get her things ready as well.

Once they packed everything they needed, they set out toward the Badlands, which was on the southern border of Equestria. They all bought their tickets for the express and were seated afterwards.

"I hope my mane doesn't get too dusty." Emerald Abstract said to herself. She was an emerald colored Earth Pony with a purple and red, curly mane and tail.

"Getting dirty will be the least of our problems now." Shadow replied. "Remember, we have a job to do and a world to protect. We don't want anything standing in our way." she ended. The others nodded

After a while, the sun was starting to set and they were still traveling south toward their destination. Shadow noticed that Ultimate wasn't with them, so she peaked threw the glass on the door to the rear of the express. She could see him outside on the porch gazing at the sunset. Shadow went back by him.

"Hey Ulty." She greeted.

"*hpmf*" he replied. He'd prefer not to actually say hi for some reason, and everyone else has noticed it...Shadow gazed at the sunset with him.

"...Do you really believe that the Darkness of Destruction is nearly here?" She asked.

"I believe we must be ready at all costs, 24/7 to fight off evil, but to answer your question differently, I believe in whatever Luna says. After all, she it a powerful pony." he replied.

"I know, but I just feel that...I feel like that's only gonna be one of our major problems heading our way." Ultimate looked down at Shadow. "I feel like something terrible is going to happen that will separate us, which won't help our case at all. But that's not the only thing I'm afraid of..."

"Maybe that's why Luna specifically told us to look out for each other, but what is the other thing?"

"...I keep thinking about those dark and evil images that appear in my head every now and then. I'm not entirely sure what they all mean, but I think it might have to do with both the Darkness of Destruction and the Garden of Shadows. Something that happened long ago when our home was taken from us. Something cruel and evil happened that night, I can feel it...but I just don't know what it is." She ended. He looked at her for a few seconds then back at the sunset.

"I will only tell you this much about what happened that night, the rest will be reveled once the time comes. On the night our home was defeated, the evil darkness stood upon us, looking at us with blackness in its soul. Once we stared into it, dark images began to grow in our minds. They may be truths or lies about our past...but in your case, it's all true..." he replied. Shadow looked up at him. "...I had no choice, I had to do it..." he ended, looking down in shame. Shadow knew it also had something to do with him as well. She didn't want to hear anymore of it, but she also had a sort of feeling to stay next to his side for a little while. She couldn't tell weather it was out of friendship or affection for him. Whatever it was, it felt warm and good for both of them. They both looked back at the sun as it set down the horizon.

The Finding

At about 9:00 at night, they finally reached the Badlands, where there were pieces of broken steel all over the ground and a few bones sticking out from the ground.

"Wow, time really does fly!" Thunder Dash commented. Shadow looked around, remembering the battle between her and a few friends against Steel Heart and him minions. Many died during that war, but that was in the past. Right now, they had to search for clues. They found an abandoned tower in the center of the attraction, so they decided to search in there. Inside was just ruins and pieces left over from Steel Heart's army. Cobwebs covered the walls, pieces of metal were all over the floor, sand was covering it as well. They carefully walked through the halls and started looking in each room, until they came to an abandoned library filled with both books and scrolls. Inside one of the shelves was a blue glow. Shadow saw the glow and walked over to find two shards that belonged to Nightmare Moon's helmet. She picked it up and turned around to see Ultimate looking at one of the scrolls.

"These are ancient prophecies that still need to be fulfilled." He found out. Shadow and the others reached for a few more scrolls to find out what they mean. Blossom pulled out that had a crescent moon on it. She opened it and read it, then turned to the others.

"Guys, you might wanna look at this one. It's something about us." She explained. They all put down their scrolls and walked over to Blossom. "Here's what it says."

"Those who bask and play in the night shall be the new defenders of Equestria from evil darkness. Six friends and one guide, together they shall conquer evil. But one will give in and side with the darkness, while another will suffer a grave fate to save her. But together, these two will fall with feeling and stand up to evil to protect the world from devastation."

They stood there for a second, letting it all sink in. Then Ultimate levitated the scroll from Blossom and put it in his bag.

"Let's worry about this later. Now we need to find clues."

"I found a few shards on one of the shelves." Shadow said, and she pulled them out for them to see. After a brief look at them, Ultimate also put them in his bag for safe keeping.